This book features 25 profiles in which champion motocross riders tell readers what it was like to ride a winning bike, how special features put it ahead of the competition, and what memorable moments happened along the way. Each profile is illustrated with action photography form the bikes glory days as well as present-day images, offers a detailed technical analysis of the engine, transmission, frame, suspension, brakes, and other features that made the bike special and stand out form the competition. Rich with detailed photography and anecdotes this is an irresistible celebration of the spirit of Motorcross, and what made it into the fastest-growing motorbike sport in the world.

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Review

Latest book to arrive on the CDB desk is Terry Good s Legendary Motocross Bikes and it should have a health warning stamped on the front! From the stunning pic of Roger DeCoster powering round the Carlsbad berm on his Suzuki to the Marty Tripes Honda on the back cover this book will set the heart racing. Good has used his contacts, enthusiasm and sheer passion for motocross to delve into the history of that ultimate expression of the genre The Works Bike. In a money-no-object world with winning the only consideration, some incredible machinery emerged in the frenetic world of GP MX. It couldn t last of course but for a glorious period budgets were bust as factories strove to outdo each other. Feverishly flicking the pages revealed Sten Lundin s Lito as the first bike featured, then follow 19 other iconic factory machines, taking readers through the golden period of motocross. You need this book. --Classic Dirt Bike, August, 2009--Terry Good has arguably the world's finest collection of pedigreed motocross factory bikes, a treasure he approaches with the mind of an archeologist. While the bikes in his collection are strikingly beautiful, nothing is done to them that would erase the evidence of their use. They are 'restored' as faithfully as possible to the last moment of their racing lives, not to the first moment they emerged new and shiny from the racing department. For example, if the frame or cases of a motorcycle show bare metal where a legendary champion's boot rubbed away the paint, that evidence of its history will not be altered or repainted. A 1971 Yamaha YZ637 ridden by Torsten Hallman still has on its one-off, sand-cast throttle assembly the blue electrical tape that Hallman's mechanic applied to it in 1972. To unearth the history behind his rare one-of-a-kind motorcycles, Good has conducted extensive research and forged fast friendships with many of the living legends of motocross. These include Hallman, Sten Lundin, Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster, Hakan Andersson, Pierre Karsmakers, Marty Tripes, Kent Howerton, Johnny O'Mara, and many more. Now, all of this: the machines, the history, the men, the friendships have come together in a book entitled 'Legendary Motocross Bikes: Championship-Winning Factory Works Bikes,' authored by Good. In landscape format, this stunningly beautiful book contains studio-quality images of 20 of Good's machines as well as historical photos of those bikes in action. In addition to Good's text, there are signed anecdotes, reminiscences, and testimonials by the champions who rode them. There is a foreword by American Honda team manager Dave Arnold, and, consistent with the book's scholarly quality, an index is provided. --Ed Youngblood's motohistory--Legendary Motocross Bikes is a 160 page book covering 20 factory works bikes in a format that has never been done before. Each bike is described from a technical point of view and from a performance point of view. Plus, the riders that steered these amzing bikes to victory describe what it was like to ride them, what put it ahead of the competiton, and what memorable moments happend along the way. The book features some never before told stories such as Roger DeCosta's account of the dramatic 1973 championship season and how he modified his own works Suzuki to save the title. DeCostar also tells about testing the only monoshocks works Suzuki ( before Yamaha bought the patent) plus featured is the only photo of him riding it. Joel Robert describes what it was like to ride his incresible 168 lb works Suzuki that delivered him his sixth and final works championship. Also, what really happened when Marty Tripps' works Honda was claimed at Hangtown in 1979. Marty Tripes, Honda team manager Gunnar Lindstrom and the claimer John Roeder tell their stories for the first time in thirty years -- --VMX Magazine, September, 2009

Every motorcycle profiled on these pages marks a milestone, offering a detailed analysis of the engine, frame, suspension, brakes, and other features that made the bike a winner. A nice touch is that the authro includes first-hand accounts from apst chamions of what these historic bikes were like to ride. --British Dealer News, Octber, 2009 You can't beat reading a good book, unless of course you just enjoy looking at the pictures in which case this Legendary Motocross Bikes book has you covered whatever your mood. jam-packed with 20 fantastic race machines from around the world inlcusing Stan Lundin's Monark, Tosten Halman's YZ637 and Eric Geober's RC500C - the last of the true factory 500cc Hondas - this 160 page full-colour book is an absolute must-have for the motocorss fan. -- --Dirt Bike Rider, October, 2009 Another gem from Motorbooks - this A4 landscape full colour softback takes a look at no less than 20 of the top works motocross machines form Sten Lundin's 1961 Monark-Lito, throguh to eric Geboer's 1989 Honda RC500M, with such machines included as Decoster's 1973 Suzuki, Malherb's Honda, and Hallman's Yamaha. If 'post classic' motocross is your thing, then you'll like this! -- --Classic Bike Guide, November, 2009

...a fascinating new book which charts the golden age of development of motocross. the authro concentrates on the period from 1971 to 1989 looking in detail at some 20 bikes and riders. This was the space age as far as the development of motocross machines is concerned. As well as looking in detail at the individual machines, the author has also interviewed the riders. I found their stories very enlightening, and learnt a lot of new deatil from these sections. Definatly good enough to recommend: it was a very important period for motocross and arguably the pace of development back then has never been matched since. --Belfast Telegraph, November, 2009

About the Author

Terry Good started off-road motorcycling aged 14, and begun competing in 1972, turning professional in 1975, peaking with the infamous 1976 AMA National series. He bought his first factory works motorcycle in 1978, and now has the most prestigious collection of factory work bikes in the world.

Top customer reviews

This book should be titled 'A personal tribute to Japanese Motocross Bikes'To jump from Sten Lundins 1959 Monark/Lito to a 1971 Yamaha does not do justice to the true legedary bikes from the late 1950's to those of the early 1970's that have given us the machines of today.No doubt there is a place for these Japanese machines but to omit motorcycles such as the 1965 twin port 250 & 360 CZs and the later single port CZ's both of which Joel Robert & Roger DeCoster took to numerous world titles, nor to mention the BSA Victor that Jeff Smith rode to a world title with really does result in a totally misleading book title.Greeves (European championship-Dave Bickers), Husqvarna, Maico & KTM are four others that immediately come to mind as world championship winning machines but again there is no mention of them.Sorry but I am disappointed because in my mind the books title does not reflect its contents.

....I agree 100% with 'Lodekka'.I owned a works Suzuki RH250 & ex-works(Vic Eastwood) Maico 250 and to miss out the European machines is a great injustice... Where would Roger D,J Robert and ALL the rest of the MOTO-X circus who taught the yanks via the trans-am series have learn their skills except on (sometimes)inferior european machines.. No,nice coffee table book for the current motoX riders but to have seen these stars on 'natural' circuits over here in europe is something I'll always remember.Can you tell the difference today between motox 'stars'?Maybe I'm too old but I can't,they all look the same.... Sorry,Al.

I bought this book as a Christmas present for my dad. I was keen on getting it as we have a shared interest in VMX, so it was really always going to be shared!

The images used in the write ups of each model are a good mix, and the contributions from riders are particularly welcome with a nice touch of a signature at the end. The story of how Marty Tripes Works Honda ended up in the hands of a privateer is priceless...

The book seems to cater for most bikes that were prominent in racing between 1961 and 1989. It's great to see the interest in these bikes isn't diminishing. If you've been involved in in Classic/Evo Motocross or simply have a passing gaze at these machines from time to time then I'd recommend this book. You might even be tempted to buy a barn find!

I have to say that after browsing through this book my initial impression was one of disappointment due to the almost total lack of bikes from the 60s. However, upon starting to read the book I quickly became fascinated by it's content. I hadn't realized just how "special" a "works bike" was. I think that most people with an interest in any branch of top level motorcycle sport would enjoy reading this book as they will almost certainly be amazed by how much work the factories were prepared to put in to achieve the desired results. So although the book wasn't what I was hoping for due to the shortage of the machines that I would've preferred to read about I rate it at 4 stars as it is a very good book.

Great book that goes into detail on each of the works bikes with excellent photo's, showing components of every bike. One of the best parts is also the comments from the riders on each of their bikes, little insight's into what was a great time for motocross bike development.